I would think that we have had so much lessons on how to sing, i.e. how to sing professionally, how to fake it (hehehe), what is tone deafness and other related topics that teaches you how to sing, however, I firmly believe that we are all bestowed with the gift of music, tone deaf or in-tune, every able being who has vocal chords who can come up with a rhythm can sing, whether it is out of tune, in tune, rapping or in monotone, it is not really in our ability to follow melody and to be in perfect pitch that makes us good singers, but in how we sing it.
Now let us talk about attitude.
According to the Wikipedia, a Diva is a celebrated female singer. The Italian term is used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talent in the world of opera and by extension in theatre and popular music. The meaning of ‘diva’ is closely related to that of “prima donna.” By far, my favorite definition is, the basic sense of the term is goddess, the feminine of the Latin word “divus” meaning god.
So there, simply put, a diva is a goddess.
When one is asked who he or she might consider a diva, the names of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion comes to mind. Locally, we have Jaya, Regine Velasquez and Zsa Zsa Padilla (okay, okay, fine, these are but my favorite divas) but yes, have you ever noticed what makes them effective singers, err, divas?
Nope, it is not those glittery gowns they don nor the sparkling jewelry they have on, it is neither their eye make-up nor their oh-my-God high-heels that make them effective singers, it is the manner in which they sing the songs that makes us watch them with wide eyes open (with mouth wide open, with matching shrugging of the shoulders as if it was you singing, and the little pinky extended) as they hit those high notes and belt out to their hearts delight to our entertainment.
But did you ever really watch how they sing? They have this certain attitude that sets them apart from these other so-called singers, who can hit those high notes too, but are less celebrated than them, right? And even when they are not singing, say in interviews (talk about our local divas, as they talk on The Buzz or Showbiz Central), they command a certain kind of respect from the people who interview or talk to them. I guess, they have that what they call the “IT Factor or the X Factor!”
Yup! It is all in the attitude!
Singing is an art, and like all art, an artwork is more valuable if it is unique, unaltered or stands out as simply what it is, beauty, in this case, beautiful singing is in the eyes (or ears) of the beholder.
Okay, okay, I know I am making this whole thing more confusing than it actually being helpful.
My point you guys is that, it is not whether you have the voice that is of perfect pitch or you not being tone deaf that makes you a good singer, it is not those vocal lessons that will make you a good singer because as long as you have vocal chords and you can hum, you can memorize lyrics, sing from the heart and have your own very unique attitude to sing or rap or belt out or… okay, okay, I have to stop being melodramatic otherwise I will explode! What I want to say is that, as long as you have the passion to sing, the confidence to deliver the song in whatever way you want to, as long as you can feel it and move the people who are listening to you, it is the attitude or the manner in which you sing it that will count a lot!
Cut to the chase, guys, remember audience impact? That is enough to make you the star for all season, the one and only superstar, the megastar… your own shining star; you are the diva that you want yourself to become.
Hold on one minute, says my husband, if women are divas, what are men who are passionate singers called? Divus? Hehehe. Well, at least in Latin, it means that.
Until next time!
